Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-02-04
ANARCHY.
County Commissioners in Colorado
Forced to Resign at the Points
OF a Mob's Pistols.
The Commissioners were MeNicans and
Republicans. and n Sheriff Said to be
Democrat Leads the Opposition.

DENVER, Col, Feb. 3.-Pagosa Springs,
the seat of Conneias county, is in state
of anarchy. A mob has driven the County
commissioners from town, burned several
houses, and the Commissioners scared
and forced to resign their offices at the
point Of revolvers.
A special from there says: j. B. Mar
tinez, j. Parchuleta and L. Scase, Repub-
lican County commissioners, were, on
July 5, unseGted by the Demo
cratic Sheriff named Height. The act
was perpetrated with political intent
and the mob which followed the Sheriff
after having accomplished the act of in
tlmidation burned the house of Mr.
Scase. This last act was committed
Monday during the absence OF Scase in
Denver.
Last November the above named Com
missioners were elected by Republican
votes. At the same time Democrat
named Height was elected Sheriff. There
was 3 great deal OF feeling at
the polls, but the prepondersting Mexi-
can vote assured MARTINEZ Parchuieta
and Scase their triumph over the attacks
of their antagonist. They were MeXicans
and this added to the strength of the bit
terness prevalent; the feeling increased
instead of diminishing as the time OF their
induction into Office approached. Janu-
airy ;, at the county seat, the time for
their official appearance, an srmed mob
of twenty men, led by Sheriff
Height, forced its way into the room
where the Commissioners were seated ana
demanded them to YaCate their seats.
The Sheriff insisted that the designations
be made at once or else there would be
bloodshed. The Commissioners, mistak
ing the temper of the mob. refused under
the impression that the demonstration
was nothing more than buster, but the
mob, intent on its purpose, took forcible
posscssi7n of the Commissioners, and
with more threats, locked them in the
room, declaril 9 it to be their pur
pose to starve them into submission.
At the time of the forcible entry of the
mob MARTINEZ left the room and escaped
from the building. 4 delegation of the
mob overlook him, foTcibly dragged him
to the courthouse and locked him up
with his companions. Finally, at the eX
piratiOn of five or six hours, the mob
permitted the prisoners 10 go, but the
concession seemed TO be for purpose
As soon as the Commissioners separated
the mob with the Sheriff still at its head
Commissioner Scase to MS home. !
Scase was proprietor of hotel at Pagosa
Springs, and it was here that he resided. |
The mob surrounded the hotel and taking |
Scase again in custody he was dragged !
forth from the midst of his family and |
With gun barrels at his head com
oelled him to resign office as a Com !
missioner. The resignation so obtained |
vas at once forwarded to Gov |
,rnor Adams, and instructions
sent with it that he appoint
It once Democrat IN place of Scase. !
Since that time the board has not met,
Tor have the laws been enforced, and a .
of things bordering upon an
Lrchy has prevailed. Tne matter was
brought before the General Assembly to-
lay and committee was appointed to in
-pstinsts affairs at Once